Windrowing machine



March 1, 1932. 1,847,288

IIIIIIIIIIIIIII NE IN VEN TOR March 1, 1932. 1,847,288

W. H WORTHINGTON -WINDROWING MACHINE Filed Nov. 15; 1929 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 AT TORNEY March 1, 1932. w. H. WORTHINGTON 1,847,288

WINDROWING MACHI NE Filed Nov. 15, 1929 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENT R A TTORNE Y March 1, 1932. w. H. WORTH'INGTON WINDROWING MACHINE Filed Nov. 15, 1929 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 VIN VEN TOR ATTORNEY March 1, 1932. w. H. WORTHINGTON WINDROWING MACHINE Filed Nov. 15, 1929 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 i & e a i Q r: w QS s u N c Q w i g :5 a? 3 w Q m s Q R Q 3 Q 1:

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Q I\ Q INVENTOR W0 f/mryfm A TITO'RNE y WINDROWING MACHINE Filed Nov. 15, 1929 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 i /5/ 02 M ng; w

INVENTOR ATTORNEY W. H WORTHINGTON March 1, 1932.

WINDROWING MACHINE Filed Nov. 15, 1929 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Patented Mar. 1, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMBINEHARVESTER CORPORATION, OF INDEPENDENCE, MISSOURI, A CORPORA- TEEON OF DELAWARE DROWING' MACHINE Application; filed November 15, 1929. SeriaINo. 407,390.

lvfy invention relates to windrowing machines, and more particularly tomachines of that character for cutting and windrowing wheat orsimilar crops that require time to mature. before they are in. condition for threshing- The principal objectsofthe invention are to provide a rugged'machineiwherein thecutting mechanism is; suspendingly balanced from the mainframe, and to provide a supporting framework which is extremely rigid, and wherein certain torsional, strains are equalized by opposed strains inherently constructed in the frame.

Inaccomplishing these and other objects of the invention, 1' have provided. improved details of structure, the preferredform of which is shownin the accompanying drawings, wherein:

\ Fig. 1 is a perspective view of. the front of a machine constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the-rear. of the machine.

Fig. 3 is a plan viewof the machine.

Fig. 4 is a rear elevational view of the machine, particularly illustrating the trusses and brace members of the frame.

Fig. 5' is a longitudinal sectional view through the machine on the line 5-5, Fig. 4.

Fig. dis a detail perspective view of a portion of the machine, illustrating the mechanisms for operating and adjusting the cutting unit.

Fig; 7is anelevational' view of the trusses for trussing the cutting unit, parts of which are broken away to better illustratethe construction.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged cross sectional view through a longitudinal portion of the main frame, particularly illustrating the brace member for inherently tensioning the frame. Fig. 9 is a detail sectional view through the grain wheel, particularly illustrating its mounting and the pivotal connection of'one of the arms supporting the cutting unit.

Fig. 10 is a sectional view on the line 1010, Fig. 9, illustrating the pivotal connection of the supporting arms with the main 50 frame.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view through an axle supporting bracket on the line 11-11, Fig. 9. Referring more in detail to the drawings: 1 designates a main frame including spaced parallel channel members 2 and 3 and cross members 4 and 5, secured to the longitudinal members by gusset plates 6, 7, 8 and 9. In

front of the cross member 5 the channel2 is canted toward the, longitudinal member 3, and their ends are connected at the top by a gusset plate 10, and at the bottom by a depending bracket 11, later described.

Extending laterally from and'in the plane of the longitudinal members. 2 and 31s an.

I-beam 12 which is secured to the flanges of the channel 3 by gusset plates 13. The free end of the I-beam is braced by a channel member 14 whichmay be an extension of the cross member 4:, and is secured to the outer .the brace member 14, as clearly illustratedin Fig. 3.

The beam is bolted to the longitudinal members 2 and 3, the beam 12 and brace 14, the outer end of the beam being supported on the gusset plate 8 above the plane of the longitudinal member 3 and I-beam 12. Thus the I-beam, due to its rigidity, produces tension in the main frame whereby a lifting effect is produced on the channel member 3, and a loading effect is produced adjacent the outer end of the lateral beam 12 to equalize tensional forces exerted by the cutting unit, later described.

The framework thus described constitutes the main frame of the machine and is supported by a main traction wheel 21, a front steering truck 22, and a grain wheel 23 aligning with the traction wheel 21. v The main wheel 21 is received in the rectangular space formed by the channel members 2, 3, 4 and 5, and is rotatably mounted on an axle 24 that is supported in the brackets 26 and 27' bolted to the lower flanges of the longitudinal members, as shown in Fig. 4, in alignment with the lateral beam 12.

The grain wheel 23 is rotatably mounted on a stub axle 28 having one end clamped in a bearing bracket 29 which is bolted to the lower flanges of the lateral. beam 12, the bracket being provided with laterally extending flanges 30, having openings 31 for receiving bolts 32 that are projected through openings of flanges of the angle, as best illustrated in Fig. 11. Formed integrally with the lower portion of the bracket are slotted sleeves 33 and 34 for receiving the axle 18 which is clamped therein by bolts 35 extending through aligning ears 36 formed on the sleeve portion of the bracket. The grain wheel 23 is retained on the axle by a brace supporting member 37, later described.

The depending bracket 11 previously described is formounting the steering truck 22 and is provided with a cylindrical bore aligning with a similarbore in a bracket 38 depending from the lower flanges of the longitu'dinal members 2 and 3.21s shown in Fig. 5.

Extending through the bores of the brackets and rotatably mounted therein is a trunnion member 39, and secured to the front end of the trunnion is the axle 40 carrying the wheels 41 of the front truck. The trunnion 39 is retained against longitudinal movement in the brackets by collars 42 and 43 clamped to the trunnion at opposite sides of the bracket 11, as best shown in Fig. 5. The front truck may be provided with any suitable draft rigging such as a tongue 44.

Supported within the angle formed by the longitudinal member 3 and the lateral beam 12 is asecondary frame for carrying the cutting unit of the machine, and which comprises a rectangular frame 45 includ ng spaced, parallel angles 46 and 47 extending parallel with the lateral beam 12, and connecting the an les 46 and 47 are a plurality of spaced angle bars 48, 49, 50, 51 and 52, each having their horizontal flanges bolted to the lower side of the horizontal flanges on the angles 46 and 47, as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5.

Supported from and attached to the angle 46 of the horizontal framework, just de scribed, are spaced, vertical angles 53 connected at their upper ends by an angle bar ,54 extending parallel with the angle bars 46 and 47, previously described.

Riveted t0 the vertical flanges of the angle bars 46 and 54, and extending from the outer end of the secondary frame to a point between the traction wheel and the grain wheel, is a sheet metal plate 55, and formed in the plate about midway of the grain and traction wheels is an opening 56, through which the cut grain is discharged into a windrow as the machine progresses over thefield, as later described.

In order that the machine may be passed through a gate or the like, the cutting unit preferably includes a detachable section at its outer end which is secured to the main section at a point substantially in alignment with the outer side of the grain wheel as indicated by the'ab'utting angles 53 (Fig. 4).

Operably supported on the horizontal portion of the secondary frame on rollers 57 and 58 is a canvas type conveyor 59, and supported on the front angle bar 47 is a sickle 60 for cutting the grain which is to be deposited by the conveyor into windrows, as later described.

Bolted to the vertical portion of the secondary frameat opposite ends of the sickle bar are forwardly projecting arms 61 and 62 for supporting a reel 63 of ordinary construction. The arm 61 projects rearwardly of the secondary frame and is adjustably braced by;-

a bar 64 bolted to the lower end of the outer angle member 53 and to the projecting end of the arm 61, and the arm 62 is adjustably supported adj acent'its outer end by a vertical post 65 that is pivotally supported by the front angle member 47. The cutting unit thus described is pivotally supported from the main frame as now described.

Bolted to the cross bars 48, 49, 50 and 51 are rearwardly and upwardly inclined arms 66,--

67, 68 and 69, respectively. The arms 66 and 69 are pivoted on the axles 24 and 28 by castings 70 bolted to the rear ends of the arms by bolts 71 projecting through plates 72 on the castings and through the arms, as best il-' lustrated in Figs. 9 and 10.

Formed integrally with the plates 72 are cylindrical bearing sleeves 73 adapted to receive the axles 24 and 28 between the spaced sleeves 29 and 30 of the bracket member supporting the grain wheel and between similar sleeves 74 a-nd 75 on the bracket member 27 supporting the axle shaft 24.

The arms 67 and 68 are pivoted to brackets 76 and 77 bolted to the lower flange of the lateral beam 12, as shown in Fig. 4, the

brackets being provided with spaced depending ears 7 8 for receiving therebetween the ends of the arms 67 and 68, which are pivotally attached thereto by bolts 79 projecting through the ears 78 and through the ends of the arms. The ears 78 are of sufficient length to position the pivotal point of the arms in alignment with the axes of the wheel shafts, so that the secondary frame can pivot on the axes of the wheels 21 and 23.

80 and 81 designate brace members for connecting the rear ends of the arms with the upper ends of the adjacent angles 53 on the secondary frame, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5,' whereby the vertical portion of the secondary frame is braced in vertical alignment with the horizontal portion of the frame.

In order to rigidly support the secondary frame and prevent sagging which would in- 1384 22 see terfere with 'the operation of the sickle bar, I providetruss members 82 and 83, now' described: The truss member 82 includes a channel-shaped compression member 84* and a bar-shaped tension member 85 having its ends bolted to the ends of the member '84- by bolts'86 and 87, asillustrated in'Fige7. The members 84'and 85 are formed to provide a substantially diamond-shaped truss member, and are spaced apart by a" vertical compression member 88, later described.

The respective ends ofthe truss member 82' are boltedzto' an angle-extension 89 pro jecti'ng from the angle 54 of the secondary frame by a bolt 90 projecting: through" an opening 91' in the end of the truss, and through a similar opening in theangle 89. The opposite end of the truss is connected by an ear 92 which is retainedbetween the ends of the members 84' and 85, and'the ear is bolted to the'rear end of the" arm 69 adjacent the casting member by a bolt 93 extending through an opening 94 in the ear and through'a similar'opening'in the arm.

The truss thus described is inter-connected with the truss 83which comprisesa channelarm 66- t'o connect with the econdary' frame acent the upper-end of the brace member 81, and the ends of the member are secured by ears 96 and 97 similar to the ear 92.

The compression member 88 comprises atubular sleeve98' supported vertically be tween thetension member 85 and the com pression member84 of the truss 82, and ex tendingthrough an opening-99in the' member 84,through openings 100' and 101 of the tensionmember's'102 and 103, through the sleeve 98, and through aligning openings 1'04 and 105 in the members 85' and; 95', respectively, is'a bolt 106. The bolt 106 is threaded on its lower end to receive a nut 107 to clamp the truss members together" and retain them in co-related position.

The tension members 102 and 103 preferably comprise rods having their free ends flattened for attachment to the ends of the compression member 95'by bolts 108 and 109. The tension members 102 and 103 are also provided with turn buckles 1 10 and 111", whereby tension of the trusses may be adjusted to position the secondary frame in proper alignment.

The outer end of the secondary frame is provided with a diagonally extending brace member 112 complementary to the arms 66to '69, and which isbolted to the retaining member 37 receivedon the end of the axle shaft 28 previously mentioned.

The member 37 comprises a sleeve having ears 1 13 and 1 14 for attaching the arm 112 by bolts 115 which project through theears and through the angle, as best shown in Fig. 2. Projecting upwardly from the retaining grain wheel, and upon' movement of the'seck ondary' frame the retaining member 37 adapted to'rockon the-axle similarly't'o the member 70,-pivoting the connecting'arms 66 and 69.

The retaining member 37 is securedkonthe axle by'a washer 122 received on a stud 123 projecting from the end of the axle", and which isthread'ed to receive a retaining nut 124.; as shown in Fig. 9;

In o'rder'to adjustably support the 'outter bar with relation to the height of grain being cnt',I provide a raising and lowering'me'ch'a nism now described.

Rotatably supported in bearings 125 and frame members-2 and 3', isa rock shaft 127, and-"on the in'n'e'r'en'd of the rock shaft is a cam-shaped segment 128'adja'cent to the forwardly projecting arm 129 preferably integrally formed on the end ofthe rock shaft 127, and to which is secured the cam segment by U bolts' 130 extending overthe'arm' and wrought-he segment, as shown in 6; 7

Fixed adjacent the forward end of the arm 66 is an ear 131 having an opening'132 to re"- ceive alaterally projecting end 133 of a eonnectinglink 134, having its npperend bent laterally to'be received in an opening 1"35'in rotated to actuate'the rock shaft 127 forlift- 1 15 ing the secondary frame. I

In order to balance the unit of the secondary frame and to assist in easy operation of the shaft 137, I providespring's' 141 and 142 having one of their ends attached to an upward extension 143 ofthe gusset plate 7, and the; otherends onnected' with a plate 144.

Fixed to the plate 144 by U-shaped clamps 145 is a cable 146 having its free end extended in a groove 147 formed in the periphery of the" camsegment and clamped thereto by a clamping plate 148 secured by one of the U-bQlt's- 130. I

- The cam: groove: 147 is so shaped that the cam compensates for the varying tension of the springs as'the cutting unit is raised or lowered with relation to the main frame so that the cutting unit is balanced by the springs regardless of its position or the extension of the springs.

Fixed to the side of the main traction Wheel and rotatable therewith on the axle shaft 24 is a sprocket 149, and aligned with the sprocket 149 is a sprocket 150 loose on the countershaft 151, which is rotatably mounted on the secondary frame adjacent the end of the angle member 46. The countershaft 151 is supported by bearings 152 and 153 secured to the angles 48 and 49, respectively. The sprocket wheel 150 is driven from the sprocket 149 by a chain 154 operating over the sprockets.

In order to rotate the countershaft from the gear 150, I provide a clutch member 155 having teeth'156 adapted to engage similar teeth 157 on the hub of the sprocket 150, the clutch being operated by abell crank lever 158, having one end engaging the clutch member 155 and the other connected with a flexible cable 159 running over a pulley on the frame, having its free end attached to an actuating lever 160; the lever 160 preferably being supported adjacent the front end of the channel member 3 by a bracket 161.

Fixed on the countershaft 151 is a sprocket wheel 162, and operating thereover and over a sprocket wheel 163 on the reel shaft is a chain 164 so that when the countershaft clutch is engaged with the sprocket 150, the

,countershaft operates the reel to bring the grain into contact with the sickle bar. Also fixed on the countershaft between the sprocket wheel 150 and the sprocket wheel 162 is a sprocket wheel 165 aligned with a sprocket wheel 166 for operating a transmission mechanism indicated by the housing 167 the sprocket 166 being driven by a chain 168 operating over the sprockets.

The transmission housing 167 is supported on the horizontal portion of thesecondary frame adjacent the inner end of the angle member 47. Extending longitudinally through the housing is a power delivery shaft 169 having a crank 170 on its forward end for actuating the sickle bar through a pitman 171. The opposite end of the shaft 169 is provided with a clutch 17 2 for operably connecting an aligning shaft 173 rotatably supported on the secondary frame. Fixed to the outer end of the shaft is a sprocket 174 for actuating the canvas conveyor as now described.

Fixed on the roller shaft 58 of the conveyor is a sprocket 175 and operating over the sprocket, idling sprockets 176 and 177, and over a sprocket 178 is a chain 179. The sprocket 17 8 is rotatably mounted on a stub shaft 180 projecting rearwardly of the vertical portion of the secondary frame (Fig.

4), and operable on the stub shaft with the sprocket 17 8 is a sprocket 181 driven by a chain 182 running over the sprocket 174, idlers 183 and 184, and the sprocket 181, whereby the conveyor is driven from the sprocket 174 through the chains 182 and 179.

Pivotally supported by the secondary frame crosswise ofthe end of the conveyor is a stubble breaker 185 for bending over the grain stubble to support the deposited wind row, as hereinafter described. The stubble breaker 185 comprises a plate 186 having upwardly extending side flanges 187 and 188, and fixed to the lower face of the guard are ribs 189. The guard 185 is pivoted to the secondary main frame by bolts 190 extending through the front ends of the flanges 187 and 188, and through'adjacent supporting members on the secondary frame. The guard is functionally supported in an adjustably inclined position by a bar 191 having its lower end pivoted to the flange 187 and its upper end supported by a crank 192.

. The crank 192 is rotatably mounted in a bearing 193 formed on a bracket 194 projecting from the vertical portion of the secondary frame; and rotatably mounted in a sleeve 196 on the bracket is a shaft 197,. and fixed to the outer end of the shaft is an eccentrically mounted disk 198 having its periphery engaging and supporting the crank 192- so that the stubble breaker 185 may be raised or low ered upon rotation of the eccentric disk 198, as specifically described in a copending application filed even date herewith.

The disk is rotated by a pulley 199 loosely mounted on the shaft but adapted to be connected with the disk by a clutch face 200 on the pulley engageable with a similar clutch face on the disk when the pulley is rotated by the cable 201 in a clockwise direction (Fig. 6).

Fixed to the center of the disk 198 is a rod 202 connected with a laterally extending arm 203 of a rock shaft 204 rotatably mounted longitudinally of the angle 48. Fixed on the end of the rod is an arm 205 having a finger 206 adapted to engage the clutch 172 for stopping rotation of the shaft 17 3 when the stubble breaker is in raised position.

In operating a machine constructed and assembled as described, the machine is drawn over the field and rotation of the main wheel 21 operates the countershaft 151 to actuate the sprockets 165 and 166 for operating the shaft 169 to drive the sickle bar.

The reel is also actuated from the countershaft through the sprockets 162, 163 and chain 164, to bring the grain into engagement with the sickle bar. The cut grain then falls on the conveyor and is discharged at the end thereof onto the stubble breaker 185, from which it slides off to be deposited in a windrow supported by the stubbles of the grain laid over thereby.

During travel of the machine the secondary frame may be adjusted with relation to the height of the grain by operating the shaft 137 to rotate the rock shaft 127 for actuating the cam crank arm 129, as previously described.

When it is desired to stop operation of the platform-conveyor, the pulley 199 is actuated by the cable 201 to cause the disk 198 to rotate and lift the stubble breaker 185, which at the same time causes the finger 26 on the arm 205 to engage the clutch 172 and stop opera tion of the conveyor.

Actuation of the sickle bar may be controlled through the operating the lever 160.

What I claim and desire ters Patent is:

1. In a machine of the character described, a frame having a longitudinally extending portion and a laterally extending portion, wheels supporting the frame, a secondary frame, arms fixed to the secondary frame and pivoted to the laterally extending portion of the main frame, crossed trusses connecting pivoted ends of each of the arms with the secondary frame for bracing the secondary frame, and braces connecting the pivotal ends of the arms with the secondary frame.

2. In a machine of the character described, a main frame, a secondary frame, arms fixed to the secondary frame, and pivotally connected with the main frame, means for supporting the secondary frame with the main frame at one end thereof, tension and compression members connecting the secondary frame adjacent its supported end with one of the arms adjacent its pivotal connection with the main frame, a compression member supported between the members, a third member connecting the other arm with the secondary frame adjacent its outer end, and tension members connecting the ends of the last named member with the compression member to support the opposite end of the secondary frame.

3. In a machine of the character described, a main frame having a longitudinally extending portion and a laterally extending portion wheels supporting the frame, a secondary frame pivoted to the main frame within the angle formed by the longitudinally extending portion, a rock shaft mounted on the longitudinal portion of the frame, a cam on the rock shaft, an arm associated with the cam, a link connecting the arm with the secondary frame, a flexible member operable over the cam, a spring connected with the flexible member and the main frame to balance the secondary frame, and gearing on the rock shaft for actuating the rock shaft to move the secondary frame on its pivotal connection with the main frame.

4. In a machine of the character described, a main frame, a secondary frame pivotally connected with the main frame, a rock shaft on the main frame, a cam-shaped member on and the reel clutch 158 by to secure by Lettherock shaft, an arm on the rock shaft,-a' link connecting the arm with the secondary frame, ,a flexible member operable over the cam member, means connected with the flexible member to balancethe secondary frame on its pivotal connection with themain frame, and gearingon therock shaft for actuating the rock shaft to move the secondary .frame with relation to the mainframe.

5. In a machine of the character described including a frame havinga longitudinally extending portion and a lateralportion extending from the longitudinal portion, a grain wheel for supporting the free end of the lateral portion, an axially aligned traction wheel for supporting theerear ofathelongitudinal portionof the frame, a front-truck for supporting the front end of the longitudinal portion, a cuttingunit including anectangular frame havinga vertical extension, supporting arms attachedto the rectangular frame and pivoted to the lateral extension of the main frame in axial alignment with the grain and traction wheels,cross trusseshaving their ends connected with thearmsand with the vertical extension ofthe rectangular frame for trussing the cutting unit, and means on the longitudinally extending porr tion of the main frame for raising, and lowering the cutting unit on its pivot.

6. In a; machine of the character described, a main frame, axially aligned wheelssupportingthe frame, a secondary frame pivoted to the main frame in axial alignment with the wheels, a rock shaft on the main frame,,a camshaped member on the rock shaft, me ans con necting thecam-shapedImemberwith, the secondary frame, means operable over-thecam for balancing the secondary frame, and. means on the rock shaft for actuating the rock shaft to raise the secondary frame on its, piv otal connection withthe main frame.

7. In a machine of the character described, a frame including inner and outer longitudinally extending members, cross members connecting the longitudinally extending members, a laterally extending member fixed to the inner longitudinal member, a beam extending diagonally across the longitudinal members and the free end of the lateral member, means for securing the beam to each of the respective members including means for spacing the beam above the level of the outer longitudinal member to produce inherent tension in the frame for the purpose set forth.

8. In a machine of the character described, a main frame, arms pivoted to the main frame in spaced parallel relation with each other, a secondary frame carried by said arms including a vertical portion and a horizontal portion, a truss member connecting the vertical portion of the secondary frame with one of the arms adjacent its pivot, a second truss member connecting the vertical portion of the secondary frame with the other arm adjacent its pivotal connection, and a compression member interconnecting said trusses.

' 9. In a machine of t e character described, a main frame, arms pivoted to the main frame, a secondary frame carriedby said arms and crossed trusses positioned above the plane of the said arms for trussing the secondary frame. r

10. In a machine of the character described, a main frame, arms pivoted to the main frame,

fa secondary frame carried by said arms, up-

right members on the secondary frame in substantial alignment with said arms, means bracing the upper ends of the upright members with the pivoted ends of the arms, and crossed trusses connected with the upright members and the arms to truss the secondary frame.

r 11. In a machine of the character described, a main frame, arms pivoted to the main frame, a secondary-frame carried by said arms, upright members on the secondary frame in substantial alignment with said arms, means bracing the upper ends of the upright members with the pivoted ends of the arms, crossed trusses'connected with the upright members and the arms to truss the secondary frame, and means for tensioning the trusses. 12. In a machine of the character described, a frame including inner and outer longitudinally extending members, a lateral member fixed to the inner longitudinal member, a beam extending diagonally of said members and resting on the inner member and the inner lateral member, an insert positioned between the outer member and the beam to raise the inner member above the outer member to inherently tension said frame, and means for securing the beam to the longitudinal and lateral frame members.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

WAYNE H. WORTI-IINGTON. 

